Automobile cover

ABSTRACT

A car cover in a container with a 4-unit suspension system that keeps the tarp from the painted surface of the vehicle while protecting the paint, rubber and interior. Another feature of the invention is its attachments to protect the vehicle from hail or sleet. The tarp, container, and the suspension units will be marketed in 3 different sizes to fit all vehicles including duallys, vans and passenger autos. The tarp container can be hung on a building with 2 removable oval hangers with 3 slotted positions to adjust the height. The slotted holes will fit over two bolts permanently attached to a building. When the tarp container is attached to a building 3 of the suspension units are eliminated. Another feature is the invention can be repaired or parts replaced using standard plumbing pipe that can be purchased at most lumber and plumbing merchandisers.

SPECIFICATION

[0001] Four Units: 1—Housing; 2—Roof Clearance Racks; 1—Hood Clearance Rack. The units will come in three different lengths for trucks, cars, and small trucks and compacts.

[0002] The housing unit is constructed of 4″×63″ plastic pipe with plastic end caps with setscrews. A 47″×3″ opening is cut out of the pipe. A 2 hinged cover of the same plastic material closes snugly over the cut out in the housing unit. Two 2″×16″ plastic pipe legs with end caps with 2¼″ suction cups for feet can be cut with a hacksaw to adjust the height of the unit. The legs are removable for storing. Simply twist and pull the legs from the leg base that are mounted to the bottom of the unit. The legs are plastic measuring 2″. Three smaller bases measuring ¾″ are mounted to the main unit, one on each end and one centered between the two leg bases. The purpose of the smaller bases is to house units that attach the housing unit to the vehicles lights. By cutting the leg units to require height and attaching the smaller units on each end, a series of plastic pipes and plastic 90° elbows will be cut and shaped to reach each taillight of a vehicle. End caps with section cups will allow anchoring the unit in a vertical position to the taillights while it rests on the legs with end caps with suction cups. The center ¾″ base is for anchoring the unit to the rear windshield of a car by using a long plastic pipe with 90° or 45° elbows and small sections of pipe cut to fit an end cap with suction cups. When the cover of the unit is open the tarp will be seen folded and stuffed in the housing unit. The tarp can be removed from the housing unit but will remain attached to the housing unit by a wooded rod running through it. The wooden rod will be attached with metal and rubber hanger on one end. The rod runs through the hanger that is clamped inside the housing unit. The other end of the rod has a hole in the center of it corresponding with the hole in the housing unit. A bolt and nut secures the rod to the housing unit. The rod is able to expand or contract without buckling. All protrusions (screws, nuts) are caulked inside the housing to protect the tarp.

[0003] The 2 roof clearance racks are identical. The units are constructed of ¾″ plastic pipe with wood cores, or wood extension in the center of the pipe. The bottom rail will be ¾″×36″ with stationary elbows on each end with suction cups on the other end of each elbow. Both elbows with suction cups will be permanently attached inside of the 2 elbows. A T coupler of the same ¾″ plastic material will be slid on to the bottom rail. The 2 T couplers will be floating (that is they will be able to be turned around the bottom rail). The 2 Ts will be kept in their proper position with a sleeve on the left and the right of both of the T couplers. ¾″×3½″ risers will be attached on the 3^(rd) opening of the 2 Ts. The risers will be the same plastic material with wood core. The risers will have another T coupler on the other end. Through these 2 Ts on the end of the risers a hollow rail will be permanently attached (top rail). The top rail will be 66″ long. (The length of the top rail will vary based on the width of the vehicle. If the device will be used for more than one vehicle, it should be the length of the smaller vehicle as it does have extensions). A plastic T coupler with 2 sleeve keepers will be attached in the center of the top rail. The T coupler will float. The 2 sleeve keepers on each side of the T coupler will be permanent. On each end of the top rail will be an end cap (2). When the end caps are pulled they will reveal extensions made of wood dowels that extend from each side to the center of the top rail. The 2 extensions are unique in that their snug fit inside of the top rail can be adjusted by removing the extensions completely from the top rail and turning the tension screw on the end clockwise to tighten the fit inside the top rail and counterclockwise to loosen the fit. The end is split and the screw spreads the extension when turned clockwise. The extension is easy to reinsert into the top rail because the end (with the set screw) is tapered. The top rail composition without the extension is: one stationary T coupler; one floating T coupler; one T coupler in the exact center that floats and has (2) sleeve keepers on each side to keep the floating T in place; one floating T coupler; and one stationary T coupler.

[0004] The two stationary T couplers will be to the outside edges and will accommodate the two ¾″×3½″ risers from the bottom rail. The centered floating T will accommodate an anchor leg with an end cap, a 45° coupler and suction cup, that makes up the tripod securing the unit to the front and rear windshields. In the case of a truck or SUV rear window, the center leg will rest on the pickup bed or SUV rear bumper. The center leg will be cut to length using a hacksaw. A sponge in a ziploc bag will be supplied in the kit and should be kept wet, clean and sealed to clean glass and plastic surfaces before suction cups are attached.

[0005] The four floating Ts on the top rails can be used to build a grid over the roof of the vehicle in case of long-term storage or in the event of a rain or hail storm. In the event of a hailstorm warning a 4 mil. plastic sheet is supplied (folded in a ziploc bag). The plastic sheet should be placed under the canopy. The cold nature of sleet and hail will make the plastic sheet rigid and protect the vehicle. One end of the plastic sheet will have 2 velcro straps that will correspond with 2 velcro patches on the inside of the main housing. The plastic sheet will drape over the top rails. The plastic will be secured by the cloth tarp pulled over top of it and fastened to the front bumper with 2 adjustable elastic straps that have a plastic hook on one end and a plastic alligator clamp on the other end. The hook will go under the front bumper and the alligator clamps will be attached to the cloth tarp in any area that creates a snug fit. The elastic also has a tension buckle to tighten and loosen.

[0006] The last unit is the front hood clearance unit that is constructed of the same plastic pipe with wood core as the 2 roof units.

[0007] The front hood unit consists of 2 legs with one floating T on each leg and one stationary T at the top. A top rail will run through the 2 top Ts. The top rail will be the same as the top rails of the roof units in one respect, it will have the same extensions with tension screws and end caps on each end for length adjustment. The length of the top rail is 72″ for the big pickups. The legs of the front hood unit will have a floating T with a 90° elbow attached. On the other end of the 90° elbow will be an end cap with a suction cup. The bottom of each leg of the front unit will have an end cap with a suction cup that rests on top of the bumper in a spot where the floating T with the 90° elbow and suction cup can make contact with the headlights on each side. The top rail will float in the 2 Ts at the top of the legs until centered. The Ts with 90° elbows and suction cups can be slid up and down and swivel 360° to mate with any headlights. (A sponge in a ziploc bag will be included to wipe lights before attaching suction cups).

[0008] On autos the housing unit will be raised high enough to clear the back of the vehicle. On pickups the tailgate edge guard will protect the vehicle's painted surfaces. On a dually however, blocks are available to extend the tarp to cover the added width of the dually wheel wells. The two 2″×4″ wooden blocks shaped in a figure seven slip over the tail gate and extend on the inside of the truck tailgate 8″, and 2″ on the outside of the truck tailgate never touching the vehicle's painted surfaces. A vertical hole 4″ deep will receive a vertical or leg into each block a horizontal hole through the blocks in corresponding depths will allow for an optional stabilizer ¾″ plastic pipe.

[0009] A top rail with extensions (like the 2 top and 1 front top rails) will go through the stationary Ts at the top of each vertical leg. The top rail will be floating and the extension can be pulled out to extend over the dually wheel wells. The length of the top rails will be 72″ for large pickups. The tarp will be more than wide enough because it is designed to cover the top of the vehicle and drape over the sides. The extensions on the top and front units can merely be pulled out to ensure that the draped tarp will not touch the vehicle's body even in strong winds.

[0010] The front and rear rails will have a center mark painted around them to make it easier to center them. The hood's “top rails” will have a floating T with 2 stationary sleeves at dead center. Eight curved plastic 4″ keepers will be supplied for long-term use. They have rounded corners and rounded edges to prevent cutting of the tarp. These keepers are snapped over the tarp onto the top rails in case of high winds. The tarp will remain in place over long periods of use. These keepers are 60% sections of plastic pipe cut longitudinally with round non-intrusive edges. As earlier stated, the top rails of the roof units will have 2 floating Ts. These will accommodate a grid that can be built over the roof section. This grid will assist in the case of long-term storage or in the case of rain predictions. The grid will prevent the waterlogged tarp from sagging onto the roof of the vehicle. This may or may not be a problem for some purchasers and they may or may not choose to use the grid. As the tarp dries out the tension from the elastic straps will lift the tarp back into place.

[0011] The four floating Ts (2 per unit) will receive two ¾″×67″ plastic pipes that have wood extensions with a ½″ section of plastic on one end and a tension screw inserted into the pipe. Each plastic pipe will have 4 stationary parallel Ts attached at equal intervals the length of the pipe. The four floating Ts on the front and rear top rails of the 2 roof units will receive the ends of the two ¾″×67″ grid pipes. Eight ¾″×13½″ hollow pipe grids (with end caps to protect the tarp) will be inserted in the 8 stationary parallel Ts making up a grid over the roof of the vehicle.

[0012] In the case of a full size van, the same units as the ones used on large pickups are employed. For vans, two 2″×5′ legs will be included to be interchanged for the two 2″×16″ legs on the housing unit and the ¾″ center leg (with wood core) on the rear roof rack will be interchanged with a leg that is 5′ long. The 5′ legs will be cut to length with a hacksaw to rest on the rear bumper with the end-cap section cups attached.

[0013] The housing unit can be raised to any height to allow attaching the unit to the rear windows of the van by turning the two %″ end-cap suction cup elbows on the ends 180° and then adjusting the length of the sleeve between the elbow and the end-cap suction cup to keep the unit parallel and also to allow clearance for the ¾″ center leg of the roof rack. A ¾″ T and two additional ¾″ end-cap suction cup elbows can be added to the center ¾″ T on the housing unit to assist in securing unit to the rear windows, if necessary.

[0014] The housing unit remains intact for storage except for the two legs that are removed. The two roof clearance units remain intact for storage except for the center anchoring leg that can be removed. The front hood unit remains intact except for the legs that are removed for storage.

[0015] The tarp is made of shear polyester material. One 60″ panel has two 30″ panels sewn on both sides with all seams sewn and top stitched. A tail 60″ tapering to 47″ with a curtain rod slot is sewn onto the center section for attaching to the housing unit.

[0016] All edges of the tarp are finished. The tarp is relatively inexpensive and easily removed by extracting one hole from the housing unit.

[0017] The housing unit can be hung on the side of a building or over the top of a garage door with (2) sections of 5″ plastic pipes 3″ wide with hanging straps riveted on the back of plastic pipe section. The hanging straps will be 2″ wide and 18″ long and 3 slotted holes will be spaced 5″ apart for height. Two bolts with anchors will be included in the kit. The 5″ oval hangers will have a ¼″ bolt protruding through it at 6 o'clock. When it is hanging on the building the bolt will protrude through it 1″. The housing unit will have two ¼″ holes at the bottom near each end.

[0018] The 5″ oval hangers will be slid on each end and the ¼″ stud will slip into the hole on the bottom of the housing unit. The distance between the holes on the hanger straps should be measured (make sure straps are perpendicular to housing unit). Measure the same distance over the garage doors or on the side of a building and place the two ¼″ bolts using anchors, if necessary. When the bolts are in place simply hang the 5″ oval units on the wall and slide them left or right to seat the housing unit into the ¼″ stud.

DESCRIPTION

[0019] The invention is a car cover (tarp) in a container with a 4-unit suspension system. The 4-unit suspension system will keep the tarp from the painted surface of vehicles. The purpose of the invention is to protect the paint, rubber and interior of vehicles from the affects of the sun. There are three special features to the invention. One special feature of the invention is its attachments to protect the vehicle from hail or sleet. The tarp, container, and the suspension units will be marketed in 3 different sizes to fit all vehicles including duallys, vans and passenger autos. The second special feature of the invention is that the tarp's container can be hung on a building with 2 removable oval hangers with 3 slotted positions to adjust the height. The slotted holes will fit over two bolts permanently attached to a building. When the tarp container is attached to a building 3 of the suspension units are eliminated. The third special feature is the invention can be repaired or parts replaced using standard plumbing pipe that can be purchased at most lumber and plumbing merchandisers.

[0020] An auto cover that protects the paint, rubber and interior of a vehicle while not touching the vehicles painted surface. There are four Units: 1—Housing; 2—Roof Clearance Racks; 1—Hood Clearance Rack. The units will come in three different lengths for trucks, cars, and small trucks and compacts. 

What is claimed is:
 1. My invention is a car cover in a container with a 4-unit suspension system that suspends a tarp over a vehicle's painted surface to protect the paint, rubber and interior from the effects of the sun and weather. My invention has three special features.
 1. One special feature of my invention is that it has attachments that protect the vehicle from hail or sleet. The tarp, container, and suspension units will be marketed in 3 different sizes to fit all vehicles including duallys, vans and passenger autos.
 2. The second special feature of my invention is that the car cover's container can also be hung from a building with 2 removable oval hangers and the height can be adjusted. The slotted holes will fit over two bolts permanently attached to a building. When the tarp container is attached to a building 3 of the suspension units are eliminated.
 3. The third special feature of my invention is that repairs or parts can be made by using standard plumbing pipe that can be purchased at most lumber and plumbing merchandisers. 